Restore 35% rice tariff, agri group tells gov’t

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That the government needed to declare a food security emergency and impose a max SRP on rice meant the tariff reduction failed to lower prices, Sinag says

MANILA, Philippines – Agriculture group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) filed a petition before the Tariff Commission to reinstate the original rice tariff rate of 35% prior to the issuance of Executive Order 62, saying it failed to lower prices.

“The need to declare food security emergency and the imposition of MSRP (maximum suggested retail price) on imported rice are admissions of the failure of EO 62 in ​reducing rice prices,” Sinag chairman Rosendo So said in a statement Monday, March 10.

The group pointed out that EO 62 led to a loss of P15 billion in foregone revenues between July and December 2024. This is money that could have gone to directly supporting farmers as stipulated under the Rice Tariffication Law.

Already, global prices have gone down. By Sinag’s calculation, there was a P8.54 decrease from July 2024 and January 2025 — bigger than the price reduction target of EO 62 at P6 to P7.

National Economic and Development Authority Director Nieva Natural said in a House hearing last December 2024 that reduced tariffs did not translate to lower retail prices.

After the government cut down tariffs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) declared a food security emergency and imposed an MSRP — all attempts to make rice more affordable for Filipinos.

Sinag also wanted to reinstate the 50% tariff on imported rice from non-ASEAN nations.

Rice imports hit a record-high in 2024 at 4.7 million metric tons. The DA expects higher palay output in 2025 at 20.4 million metric tons. – Rappler.com